Search

It had to happen sooner or later. I just don’t have a full wardrobe of handmade goodness, at this stage, yet.

I’m wearing a handmade skirt (the one I called here my “Marginal Folded Skirt”) but the top is wholly off-the-rack and readymade.

I know 50% is a failing grade, and it’s going to bring down my “Handmade Suitcase Challenge” travel GPA, and I promise to try harder, tomorrow. But there’s only so much sewing I can squeeze in, sometimes.

(I admit, though, I am rather pleased with the way vivid teal looks next to navy. This skirt is a mostly-new color in my wardrobe palette, so finding things to wear with it is a bit of a challenge all its own. Sometimes it takes work even to get to that 50% mark!)

I like that even though it’s all neutral colors, the textures play well together and the patterns keep it from being boring.

Houndstooth fabric against patterned tights and lacy knit cardigan, even the scalloped pattern on the bowtie necklace adds something similar, yet different. I will totally wear this again, and am happy that my mini-challenge led to new wardrobe discoveries.

Today’s Day 3 adventures left me barely any time to snap a documentary snapshot of my handmade outfit. So here’s me squeezed into the barest corner of my hotel room, but I’m wearing my personal favorite of my “Wear the Shift” shift dresses, along with the faux-tortoiseshell chain necklace I posted about a couple of weeks ago. I find I can put up with inconvenience easier when I’m wearing fun handmade fashions.

I told you when I traveled, I was going to pack/wear only handmade, as much as possible.

Well, I’m off!

I had to start off in pink, in homage to my TWA Lady of Vintage Suitcases. First off, though: trains, not planes (this time, anyway.) Secondly, my life is woefully lacking in pink suitcases. (I’d remedy that in a heartbeat, if I could.) Also, this real-life contemporary lady doesn’t go anywhere without coffee.

I’m going on a short business trip at the end of this month. I’m tempted to give myself a mini-challenge, and pack and wear for the trip only clothing I’ve made, myself. A sort of test, if you will, to see how well I’m laying down the groundwork for the larger project: can I, by the end of January, get by for just a few days with nothing store-bought?

It’d be easy if I stick to shift dresses, I have enough of those by now! But I’m not sure how many days in a row I want to wear just a shift dress. Harder, if I try to do separates. Harder still when limited to things that coordinate with my most comfortable walking shoes! I have some good work-ready hand-knits from years past, but what this idea reveals, even in its conceptual phase, is a lack of handmade tops: while I have some knitted overlayers, I still rely on basic shells and tanks and shirts along with my handmade skirts. And there’s the shoe thing. I foresee a lot of forced pairings with black.

Still, I’m tempted to try it. I like the idea of living out of suitcase filled with items that are unique to me. I’m planning on making a number of short (2-4 day) trips this year, and if I do it consistently, each trip, it may be a good measure of progress along the way.

In the fantastical world of my imagination, this all looks glamorously like an old airline ad. A carefree, jet-setting lifestyle of freedom brought about by modern technology and fashion. Reality, of course, has a way of turning out somewhat different.

I suppose now that I’ve written it out, I’ve as good as committed to it. Well, I’ll let you know how it goes! You can have hotel outfit updates, and grade me on my success or lack thereof. We’ll play “count the retail items in Julie’s suitcase.”